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Today's Opinions

FRANKFORT - As the clock tick-tocked on a session still without a formal budget proposal, the General Assembly this week stared down the barrel of what one leader called its ‘defining moment,’ moving ahead with what another leader called its greatest challenge since at least 1990.

FRANKFORT ee" Not long after the governor gives the General Assembly a budget proposal to run state government for the next two years, the Transportation Cabinet offers its plan to maintain the state’s roads for the next six.

The report my colleagues and I received last week foresees a difficult road ahead, so to speak.

That’s not surprising, since vehicle and gasoline sales are down dramatically because of the economy and federal road aid has dropped substantially as well in recent years.

In the wake of the earthquake disaster in Haiti, Americans are donating via text message more than ever before. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance advises donors that giving through text can be a safe and easy way to give - but you should still use caution.

Within days following the disaster in Haiti, it was widely reported that more than $3 million was donated through text message to such organizations as the Red Cross and others.

BBB Lottery Scam - Scam artists are posing as the BBB in order to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims who are led to believe they have won a lottery. Consumers are contacted on the phone or by e-mail by someone claiming to be an employee of the BBB. They were told that they won a lottery and that they must wire money to get their prize. In some cases, the scammers used the names of real BBB employees, directing victims to legitimate bios and profiles on BBB’s Website. BBB does NOT run a lottery nor award prizes to consumers.

FRANKFORT - Last week the Senate passed legislation designed to increase transparency across Kentucky government, open the primary election process to more voters, and aid crime victims in their efforts to recover stolen property.

We passed Senate Bill 40 known as the “Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2010.”

This important bill requires the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government to place their spending records into a searchable database available on the internet.